ROYAL BALLET REPERTOIRE

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28822, 17 February 1959, Page 7

ROYAL BALLET REPERTOIRE

Third Act Of “Coppelia 99 Christchurch audiences are fortunate, in many respects, that it is the Royal Ballet Company and not another of the many notable ballet companies which is to present a series of performances in Christchurch next month. If.it: had been any other company—except perhaps a Russian one—there would have been no opportunity to see some of the world’s leading ballet dances perform the third act of “Coppelia.” Describing the representative selection Of ballets to be presented in Christchurch, the comany's advance manager (Mr John Scarlett) said yesterday that the Royal Ballet Company was the only one, apart from some Russian companies, which ever performed the final act of that ballet. The reason, he said; was that a very large company was required to do justice to the act. For this, the longest tour the company has undertaken, the ballets to be performed were specially selected to present- a cross-section of the styles that have been developed in British ballet. Apart from the third act of "Coppelia,” which has not been played in New Zealand before, there are three complete ballets new to New Zealand in the company’s repertoire. They are "Facade,” “Les Patineurs” and “The Rake’s Progress." Modern Ballets “Facade" and “The Rake's Progress" are, with “Pineapple Poll," modem ballets and classics of the companys modern repertoire. The touring company—numbering 110 when the orchestra is included—has in its ranks representatives of many Commonwealth countries, according to Mr Scarlett. There are dancers from South Africa, Rhodesia, Canada, India, Australia and New Zealand. The New Zealanders, Rowena Jackson, Alexander Grant and Sandra Hill, all have important roles.

The South African. Johaar Mosaval, is an African. And takes the leading roles in both “Les Patineurs” and “Pineapple Poll.” He also alternates with the other leading dances in some variations in “Swan Lake," and appears in every ballet except “Les Sylphides.”

The company is at present in Brisbane and will fly to Christchurch on February 27. Accompanying the dancers and technicians will be 500 costumes and 17 tons of scenery and equipment.

Mr Scarlett expects to have some difficulty in finding accommodation for the company, but he hopes there will be offers of private assistance, as well as from boarding houses, flats and hotels. The company will tie left to its own devices for four days after arriving in Christchurch before travelling to Dunedin for a fiveday season there. It will return to Christchurch on March 9.